Capture, transport, and maintenance of live squid (Loligo pealei) for electrophysiological studies

The capture, transport, and maintenance of live adult Atlantic coast squid (Loligo pealei) are described. The objective was to obtain healthy live squid from a coastal region and to maintain them at an inland research facility long enough to provide at least 4 days of electrophysiological research. An inexpensive closed aquarium system is described, which utilizes an ion-exchange resin in the filter, that allows a typical survival time of at least 4.5 days. Similar closed aquarium systems may be of interest to other biophysicists who wish to maintain live squid away from coastal research facilities.